• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Living The Gourmet
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Wines
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Wines
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Crispy Fried Onion Rings

    Jun 10, 2020 · 41 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Today we’re preparing a recipe that needs no introduction – Fried Onion Rings. This is my go to recipe for onion rings. It’s simple, delicious, and never fails to impress the guests. So, whether your throwing a backyard bash with burgers and hotdogs, or are looking for a hardy side to steak, this recipe has got you covered.

    Ingredient Notes and Tips

    1) Cayenne in Onion Rings? Yes. The cayenne is the ‘punch’ behind the ‘kick’ in today’s recipe – see what I did there? While you can leave out the cayenne, I strongly recommend leaving it in, if only because it gives a nice bit of ‘smoky earthiness’ to the rings, with just a touch of background heat.

    2) Paprika in Onion Rings? Largely the same logic as the cayenne, except the paprika leans more into a deep smoky flavor as opposed to heat.

    3) The Onions. For onion rings, the go-to onion is large white and yellow onions. You want an onion that is neither terribly sharp nor terribly sweet. While you ‘can’ use pretty much any onion for onion rings, trust me and stick to basic white or yellow onions.

    4) The Oil. When frying, you almost always want to default to a basic vegetable or corn oil. While I ‘do’ fry things like zucchini flowers in olive oil, those are the exception rather than the rule. However, when frying something like calamari, onion rings, or French Fries, the temperature at which your frying exceeds the ‘smoke point’ of olive oil – which is around 375-410 degrees Fahrenheit – whereas corn oil can reach up to 450 degrees before it begins to ‘smoke.’ This essentially means that the oil begins to burn, breaking down chemically, and giving your food a rancid taste and sapping its nutrients. Curiously, on the other hand, the lower the quality your olive oil, the ‘higher’ its smoke point. In fact, ‘Light’ olive oil actually has a higher smoke point than vegetable or corn oil (a searing 480 degrees Fahrenheit), while Extra Virgin Cold Pressed olive oil will start to burn at merely a ‘low simmer.’ However, I would definitely ‘not’ recommend using light olive for frying, and instead simply opt for either vegetable or corn oil here.

    Serving Suggestions

    Yes, I know, I know, they’re onion rings, and you don’t need a whole section of ‘tips’ on how to eat them.

    However, if you ‘do’ feel like getting a little creative, or like kicking these up into high gear, here are a few suggestions for doing exactly that:

    1) Buffalo Dipping Sauce. I’m of the opinion that buffalo sauce is severely ‘typecast,’ since I believe it often gets overlooked when not in it’s ‘chicken wing incarnation.’ For a quick and easy buffalo dipping sauce, which would pair great with today’s onion rings, give this recipe a try.

    2) Spicy Honey Dipping Sauce. This is one of my absolute favorite ‘quick and easy’ dipping sauces. It’s literally just two ingredients. Head over to my Instagram to grab the recipe. Pro-Tip: It also goes great on chicken.

    3) Beef Au Jus Sandwiches. Rather than the typical hotdog or burger, consider Beef Au Jus Sandwiches, which feature thinly sliced roast beef piled onto club rolls with melted Jarlsberg, which is then topped with an Au Jus sauce (a mix of butter, Worcestershire Sauce, beef drippings, and black pepper), and finished with a spicy Giardiniera, which is a mix of grilled jalapenos, sweet onions, carrots, plenty of garlic, balsamic vinegar, and red pepper.

    Other Great Fry-Fests From Living the Gourmet

    1) Oven Baking vs Frying. My gratuitously in-depth analysis of the difference between frying and oven baking, and which is better for what recipe, as well as the general pros and cons of both.

    2) Spicy Fried Chicken. My favorite take on this perennial classic. We use corn starch to give the chicken coating a nice crisp, and add in cayenne and hot sauce to the batter to give the ultra-crispy coating a nice kick.

    3) Oven Baked Chicken. I know I promised a fry-fest, but this chicken recipe is the oven-baked version of my spicy fried chicken. I love both, so take your pick of the two and let me know down below which you like the best!

    4) Fried Cauliflower Balls. My favorite way to prepare cauliflower is as bite-sized fried delights. Drizzled with some fresh lemon, and served with a homemade tzatziki, and you’ve got a real treat that’s great as either as a starter or a side.

    5) Italian-Style Fried Shrimp Balls. These are as delicious as they sound. Prepared with fresh basil, fresh lemon, Romano cheese, and Italian parsley, these a delightful addition to any starter spread.

    Print

    Crispy Fried Onion Rings

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe
    • Author: Living the Gourmet
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 15 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 2 dozen onion rings 1x

    Ingredients

    Units Scale
    • 1 large yellow onion – sliced into 1/4 inch thickness

    For the Batter:

    • 1 cup flour – sifted
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1 egg yolk
    • 3/4 cup milk
    • 1 tablespoons Corn Oil
    • 1 egg white
    • 1 tsp. salt
    • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
    • 1 tsp. garlic powder
    • 1/2 tsp. sugar
    • 1/2 tsp. cayenne
    • 1/2 tsp. paprika
    • Corn Oil – for frying

    Instructions

    1. Slice onion to ½ inch thickness and separate into rings.
    2. Place the rings in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let the rings stand for about 30 minutes.
    3. Drain and spread on a clean kitchen towel to absorb the water.
    4. Sift the flour along with the baking powder and seasonings.
    5. Beat the egg yolk in a medium sized bowl and stir in the milk and corn oil.
    6. Add the flour mixture and stir until smooth.
    7. Beat the egg white until soft peaks are formed, then fold into the batter.
    8. Heat about 1 inch of corn oil in a large cast iron frying pan.
    9. Dip the onion rings into the batter, letting the excess batter drip into the bowl.
    10. Place several rings into the heated oil and fry until a beautiful golden color is achieved; carefully turning once.
    11. Drain on prepared paper towels.
    12. Serve with your favorite condiments.

    Notes

    *Prep Time does NOT include Inactive Prep Time

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @LTGfood on Instagram and hashtag it #LTGfood

    Recipe Card powered byTasty Recipes

    Did you make this recipe?
    If so, let me know in the comments down below, or post a picture to Instagram, or to Pinterest, and I’ll give you a shoutout on Instagram, or post your pin to one of my Pinterest boards!

    4

    Side Dishes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. angiesrecipes says

      12/06/2020 at 4:23 am

      I love them just as they are and I could eat the whole darn batch at one set! So addictive!! These look so crisp and incredibly delicious.

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 1:24 pm

        Thank you dear Angie.

        Reply
    2. kumamonjeng says

      12/06/2020 at 12:00 pm

      These look yummy and glad to find out the recipe. I have to give it a go as my family love onion rings and we usually buy from outside.

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 1:25 pm

        These are easy to make and I think you would enjoy them with your family.

        Reply
    3. Melissa Cushing says

      12/06/2020 at 3:43 pm

      These look so delicious and honestly they look like the onion rings form one of my favorite barbecue places to eat at in Charleston SC! I have pinned the pics and am grabbing the recipe so thank you for sharing. They look so good and will be perfect with burgers this weekend.

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 1:26 pm

        I hope that you enjoy them if you give them a try. Thank you for your kind words.

        Reply
    4. DAVID J MYERS says

      12/06/2020 at 6:57 pm

      Catherine, My wife would kill for these great looking onion rings! As for me, I just don’t like onions except as a seasoning in powder or flake form… Makes my wife unhappy! Stay Safe and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 1:27 pm

        I hope that your wife enjoys them Dave if Laurie gives them a try. Have a great week ahead my friend.

        Reply
    5. Annette, 3 Little Buttons says

      12/06/2020 at 7:04 pm

      Yum! Those onion rings look so crisp and moorish. We love them – especially with a BBQ or burgers and fries!

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 1:27 pm

        Thank you for your kind words. I hope you like them if you give the recipe a try.

        Reply
    6. Kristine Nicole Alessandra says

      12/06/2020 at 11:06 pm

      I will make these today. I don’t know if it is coincidence or what, but my husband just asked if I could get some large white onions today so we can make deep fried crispy onion rings. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 5:04 pm

        I hope that you enjoy the recipe and thank you for visiting.

        Reply
    7. Melanie williams says

      13/06/2020 at 6:56 pm

      Oh my gosh, these look totally amazing!! I could just eat these for sure x

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 5:04 pm

        Thank you for your kind comments. I like onion rings too.

        Reply
    8. Stephanie says

      14/06/2020 at 9:00 pm

      Yum yum yum!!! These look amazing, and something I would love to make

      Reply
      • Catherine Pappas says

        15/06/2020 at 5:05 pm

        Thank you for your kind words. I hope that you enjoy the recipe if you give it a try.

        Reply
    9. Amanda says

      15/06/2020 at 8:02 pm

      These onion rings couldn’t be more perfect! The batter has the perfect texture, and they fried up beautifully.

      Reply
    10. kelly says

      17/06/2020 at 5:45 pm

      Oh i LOVE hi evade onion rings, this recipes looks pretty simple and easy to.do.

      Reply
    11. Anna says

      18/06/2020 at 11:04 am

      Oh I love onion rings! It is probably my favourite side to order in the restaurants, but I never actually tried to make some at home. Your recipe and instructions look very easy to follow, and I love that serving suggestion with honey spiced dip! Yummo! Can’t wait to give it a go!

      Reply
    12. Chef Dennis says

      18/06/2020 at 3:27 pm

      You found my weakiness with those Onion Rings! I’ll definitely be trying your recipe!

      Reply
    13. Denise says

      18/06/2020 at 11:57 pm

      They are incredible looking Fried Onion Rings! I am saving this recipe for my next burger night dinner.

      Reply
    14. Paula Montenegro says

      20/06/2020 at 9:32 am

      I love that it’s your go-to recipe and it has cayenne, I’m dying to try it, they look so succulent! My grandmother used to say that a pinch of cayenne made food better, haha. This is just the recipe I was looking for!

      Reply
    15. Heidy says

      20/06/2020 at 2:07 pm

      Wow is what I have to say! These onion rings did not disappoint! I loved the crisp batter, and so did the family. These should be renamed “Award-winning onion rings” Saving this recipe!

      Reply
    16. Jenny says

      21/06/2020 at 6:05 pm

      I could eat the whole batch! So good! We really enjoyed the onion rings and will be making them again and again. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.

      Reply
    17. Elaine says

      21/06/2020 at 9:37 pm

      It’s been such a long time since I last made fried onion rings. For some reason I completely forgot about this appetizer, so really happy I can fix the situation with your recipe. It looks yum!

      Reply
    18. Cory Varga says

      22/06/2020 at 11:51 am

      Super delicious recipe. Easy to make, a fantastic result. Lovely!

      Reply
    19. LuciWest says

      09/07/2020 at 2:55 pm

      Mmmm can’t wait to make those onion rings at home… actually can’t wait to eat them!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Patty Melts - Living The Gourmet says:
      24/06/2020 at 5:32 pm

      […] Onion Rings. Obviously, one of the best sides to today’s melts is a batch of crispy, hardy homemade onion […]

      Reply
    2. Italian Style Sloppy Joes - Living The Gourmet says:
      08/07/2020 at 5:53 pm

      […] Onion Rings (No deep fryer needed!). Obviously, one of the best sides to today’s Sloppy Joe’s is a batch of […]

      Reply
    3. Tuna and Cornmeal Cakes - Living The Gourmet says:
      29/08/2020 at 5:16 pm

      […] Homemade Onion Rings. I’m of the opinion that onion rings pair well with just about everything, and I wouldn’t […]

      Reply
    4. Fried Pork Chops - Living The Gourmet says:
      18/09/2020 at 7:25 pm

      […] Homemade Onion Rings. I’m of the opinion that onion rings pair well with just about everything, and I wouldn’t […]

      Reply
    5. NY Style Pizza - Living The Gourmet says:
      19/01/2021 at 5:59 pm

      […] Homemade Onion Rings. I’m of the opinion that onion rings pair well with just about everything, and I wouldn’t […]

      Reply
    6. Grilled Jalapeno Guacamole - Living The Gourmet says:
      29/01/2021 at 5:29 pm

      […] Onion Rings. A big tray of these not only pairs great with today’s guacamole, but they are also a gameday […]

      Reply
    7. Crispy Oven Baked Fries - Living The Gourmet says:
      07/02/2021 at 1:33 am

      […] Onion Rings. A quintessential gameday food. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint of spice, and a thick, […]

      Reply
    8. Roasted Chicken with Mayo Dressing - Living The Gourmet says:
      18/03/2021 at 5:29 pm

      […] Onion Rings. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint of spice, and a thick, dense batter that crisps up […]

      Reply
    9. Chicken Tenders - Living The Gourmet says:
      24/04/2021 at 3:02 pm

      […] Onion Rings. I love the combo of fried onion rings and fried chicken. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint […]

      Reply
    10. Cajun Fried Chicken - Living The Gourmet says:
      12/05/2021 at 6:36 pm

      […] Onion Rings. I love the combo of fried onion rings and fried chicken. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint […]

      Reply
    11. Honey Ginger Baby Back Ribs - Living The Gourmet says:
      21/05/2021 at 7:07 pm

      […] Onion Rings. I love the combo of moist ribs and fried onion rings. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint of […]

      Reply
    12. Sea Asparagus Pesto Pizza - Living The Gourmet says:
      15/11/2021 at 5:42 pm

      […] Homemade Onion Rings. I’m of the opinion that onion rings pair well with just about everything, and I wouldn’t […]

      Reply
    13. Rosemary Potato Crisps - Living The Gourmet says:
      22/11/2021 at 10:01 pm

      […] Homemade Onion Rings. Onion rings and today’s chips? Yes please. I prepare mine with just a hint of spice, and a […]

      Reply
    14. Spicy Garlic Country Ribs - Living The Gourmet says:
      25/02/2022 at 3:34 pm

      […] Onion Rings. I love the combo of moist ribs and fried onion rings. I prepare my onion rings with just a hint of […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Living the Gourmet! Our goal is to bring you recipes and inspirations for a gourmet life.

    Meet the family →

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Our Story
    • Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

    Contact

    • Media Kit

    Social

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    Living The Gourmet
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.